Bearing locking device

ABSTRACT

A unitary sheet metal device for locking a loose fitting bearing ring to a shaft comprises first and second snap rings connected by an integral bight. The snap rings have internal surfaces adapted to frictionally grip the shaft and the bearing ring respectively. Each of the snap rings are split and have holes for expanding them during assembly to the shaft and bearing ring. The holes in the snap rings may be aligned so that the snap rings are simultaneously expandable. The holes in one snap ring may also be located outside the outline of the other snap ring so that the snap rings are independently expandable.

[ Oct-16,1973

[ BEARING LOCKING DEVICE [75] Inventor: CharlesN.Hay,Sandusk [73]Assignee: General Motors Corporation,

Detroit, Mich.

221 Filed: May 4,1972

21 Appl. No.: 250,417

[52] U.S. CI. 24/256, 24/255 C, 85/8.8,

287/5209, 308/236 [51] Int. Cl A44b 21/00 [58] Field of Search 85/8.8;308/236;

287/5206, 52.07, 52.09; 24/255 C, 255 R, 255 A, 255 TV, 256, 257 R, 81PE [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,662,642 5/1970 Bernard85/8.8 2,665,930 1/1954 Stanley 287/5206 10/1954 Leister 287/5209 911968 Bgadshawu 241256 Primary Examiner-James T. McCall AssistantExaminer-Kenneth J. Dorner Attorney-J. L. Carpenter et al.

[ ABSTRACT A unitary sheet metal device for locking a loose fittingbearing ring to a shaft comprises first and second snap rings connectedby an integral bight. The snap rings have internal surfaces adapted tofrictionally grip the shaft and the bearing ring respectively. Each ofthe snap rings are split and have holes for expanding them duringassembly to the shaft and bearing ring. The holes in the snap rings maybe aligned so that the snap rings are simultaneously expandable. Theholes in one snap ring may also be located outside the outline of theother snap ring so that the snap rings are independently expandable.

7 Claims, Drawing Figures BEARING LOCKING DEVICE This invention relatesgenerally to bearing locking devices and more specifically to a devicefor locking a loose fitting antifriction bearing ring to a plain shaft.

In the past, antifriction bearings have been mounted on shafts by pressfitting the inner bearing ring on a shaft until it seats against ashoulder of the shaft. Such mounting practice requires close control ofthe shaft and bearing bore diameter and accurate location of theshoulder. In many instances, particularly light duty applications, thecost. of such accuracy is not warranted. For this reason loose fitsbetween the bearing inner ring and. a plain shaft are employed incombination with some sort of device to clok the bearing to the shaft atthe proper location.

IN the past, such devices have generally involved the use of eithereccentric locking collars or set screws. Both of these schemes, however,can-cause the bearing to cock on the. shaft within the limits of theclearance provided by theloose fit-whichis undesirable. Moreover theseprior devices require either expensive machining operations to providethe necessary eccentric surfaces or the drilling and tapping of holesfor set screws and means for'protec'ting the shaft .from damage by thesetscrews.

The presentinvention' provides a simplified and improved means-formounting a bearing ring to a shaft which avoids-theabove disadvantagesof prior means byuse ofasimpleunitary sheet-metal device which iscapableof accurately locatinga-bearing ring on a plane:

cylindrical shaft.

The exact nature of this invention as well as other objects and featuresthereof will be readily apparent from consideration of .the followingspecification relating to the annexed drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation partially in cross section of a device forlocking a loose fitting bearing ring on a plain cylindrical shaft inaccordance 'with'this invention.

FIG. 2 is a frontview of the locking device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the locking device shown in FIG. 2.-

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the locking device shown in FIG. 2..

FIG. 5 is a front view of a modified locking device FIG. 6 is a sideview of the modified locking device shown in FIG. 5

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the modified locking device shown in FIG. 5.

Referring now to the drawings and more specifically to FIG. 1 thebearing lockingdevice 10 is illustrated assembled to a ball bearingl2and a plain cylindrical shaft 14. The inner ring 16 of thebearing 12has a bore 18 which is loosely fitted on the shaft 14 as indicated bythe space 20. Thespace 20' is only a few thousandths of an inch but ithas been exaggerated in FIG. 1 for the purpose of illustration. Anintegral extension 22 on the inner ring 16 provides an annular surface26 of uniform diameter-concentric with the axis of the bearing ring 16.The locking device 10 frictionally grips thesurface.

26 and the shaft 14 to accurately locate the bearing 12 on the shaft 14andlock the inner ring 16 to it as-will hereafter more fully appear by adetailed description of the locking device 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the bearing locking devicel0comprises a first snap ring 28 having a.ra-' dial split 30 and ears 32adjacent opposite. sides of the face 36 adapted to frictionally grip theshaft 14 by the diameter of the surface 36 being slightly less than thatof the shaft 14.

The bearing locking device 10 also includes a second snap ring 38 whichinlike manner has a radial split 40 andears 42 adjacent opposite sidesthereof. Th ears 42 are similarly each provided with a hole 44. The snapring 38 has an internal circumferential surface 46 which is larger indiameter than the internal surface 36 but which is slightly less thanthat of the annular surface 2'6 'on the bearing ring 16 so that the snapring 38 is adapted to frictionally grip the bearing ring 16. Thesubstantially coaxial and parallel snap rings 28 and 38 are spaced andconnected by an integral bight 48 giving the device 10 a U-shapedconfiguration in the side view as shown in FIG. 3. In the form of thelocking device l0shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the snap rings 28 and 38 areso oriented so that their respective splits 30 and 40 and holes 34 and44are aligned.

The bearing locking device 10 is assembled to the shaft 14 and bearing12 by disposing a two pointed tool (not shown) into the aligned holes'34 and 44 and expanding .both of the snap rings. The bearing lockingdevice 10 is sufficiently resilient to elastically deform enough topermit the surface 46 on the snap ring 38 to move along the annularsurface 26 on the inner ring 16 andthe surface 36 of the snap ring 28 tomove along the shaft'14. With'both snap rings expanded, the snap ring 28is disposed around the shaft 14 against the flat end surface of theinner ring 16 which aligns the snap ring 38 with a portion of theannular surface 26. Upon release of the snap rings 28 and 38 the innercircumferential surface'46 of the snap ring 38 frictionally grips theannular surface 26 and the inner circumferential surface 36 of the snapring 28 frictionally gripsthe surface of the shaft 14 therebysecuringthe bearing ring 16 to the shaft 14 against both axial and rotationalmovement. The bearing 12 may thereafter be adjusted on the shaft 14 byexpanding the snap ring 38 only which is done by inserting a two pointedtool only into the holes 44.

It is to be noted that the abutment of the inner marginal portion of thesnap ring 28 with the flat end surface of the inner ring 16 incombination with the snug .fit of the inner'circumferential surfacesonthe 'respective snap rings prevents cocking of the inner ring 16 on theshaft 14. 3

It is also to be noted that the bearing locking device comprises asimple unitary sheet metal device which may be inexpensivelymanufactured by simple stampingand bending operations.

A modified form of bearing locking devices is shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7.The modified bearing locking device is similar to that shown in FIGS. 2,3 and 4 and locks a loose fitting bearing to a plain cylindrical shaftin the same manner. This modified form, however, provides for theindependent expansion of the individual snap rings particularly the snapring 138 although it is to be understood that the two snap rings 128 and138 in the device 110 can be expanded simultaneously by a proper fourpointed tool. The major structural difference of the locking device 110lies in the ears 142 on the snap ring 138 which are in a substantiallytangential relationship rather than a substantially radial relationshipthus providing portions on the ears 142 which are said second earshaving second holes for receiving a outside the outline 137 of the snapring 128. The holes: 144 are located in these portions of the ears 142outside the outline 137 so that the snap ring 138 is independentlyexpandable by a two pointed tool from the outboard side of the bearing12 which is the left side shown in FIGS. 1 and 6.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to theexact details of construction shown and described, for obviousmodifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

I claim: 1. A unitary sheet metal device for looking a loose fittingbearing ring to a shaft comprising a first flat C-shaped snap ringhaving a first radial split therethrough,

first coplanar ears on said first snap ring adjacent opposite sides ofsaid first radial split, a first internal circumferential surface onsaid first snap ring adapted to frictionally grip said shaft, said firstears having first holes for receiving a tool to expand said first snapring whereby said first snap ring may be slid along said shaft,

a second flat C-shaped snap ring having a second radial splittherethrough,

second coplanar ears on said second snap ring adjacent opposite sides ofsaid second radial split,

a second internal surface on said second snap ring adapted tofrictionally grip an outer annular surface on said bearing ring,

tool to expand said second snap ring, and

an integral bight connecting said first and second snap rings in asubstantially coaxial and parallel relationship, said integral bightbeing connected to each of said first and second snap rings along aminor portion of their respective outer margins whereby said first andsecond snap rings are independently expandable.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said bearing ring has anintegral extension of reduced diameter which terminates in an end face,wherein said outer annular surface is on said integral extension andwherein said first snap ring abuts said end face on said integralextension.

3. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second splitsare aligned and said bight is diametrically opposite said splits.

4. The device as defined in claim 3 wherein said frist and second earsare generally radially disposed and said first and second holes arealignedwhereby said first and second snap rings are also simultaneouslyexpandable by a two pointed tool inserted into said first and secondholes.

5. The device as defined in claim 3 wherein said first snap ring has anoutline, said second ears have portions out of alignment with saidoutline and said second holes are located in said portions.

6. The device as defined in claim 3 wherein said first ears aregenerally radially disposed, said second ears are generally tangentiallydisposed and said second holes are circumferentially spaced from saidfirst ears.

7. A unitary connector comprising a first flat C-shaped snap ring havinga radial split therethrough, first coplanar ears on opposite sides ofsaid radial split, first holes in said first ears and a first internalcircumferential surface, and

a second fiat C-shaped snap ring disposed in a parallel and coaxialrelation to said first fiat C-shaped snap ring and connected thereto byan integral bight,

said second flat C-shaped snap ring having a radial split therethrough,second coplanar ears on opposite sides of said radial split, secondholes in said ears and a second internal circumferential surface havinga diameter greater than the diameter of said first internalcircumferential surface,

said integral bight being connected to each of said first and secondsnap rings along a minor portion of their respective outer marginswhereby said first and second snap rings are independently expandable.

1. A unitary sheet metal device for locking a loose fitting bearing ringto a shaft comprising a first flat C-shaped snap ring having a firstradial split therethrough, first coplanar ears on said first snap ringadjacent opposite sides of said first radial split, a first internalcircumferential surface on said first snap ring adapted to frictionallygrip said shaft, said first ears having first holes for receiving a toolto expand said first snap ring whereby said first snap ring may be slidalong said shaft, a second flat C-shaped snap ring having a secondradial split therethrough, second coplanar ears on said second snap ringadjacent opposite sides of said second radial split, a second internalsurface on said second snap ring adapted to frictionally grip an outerannular surface on said bearing ring, said second ears having secondholes for receiving a tool to expand said second snap ring, and anintegral bight connecting said first and second snap rings in asubstantially coaxial and parallel relationship, said integral bightbeing connected to each of said first and second snap rings along aminor portion of their respective outer margins whereby said first andsecond snap rings are independently expandable.
 2. The device as definedin claim 1 wherein said bearing ring has an integral extension ofreduced diameter which terminates in an end face, wherein said outerannular surface is on said integral extension and wherein said firstsnap ring abuts said end face on said integral extension.
 3. The deviceas defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second splits are alignedand said bight is diametrically opposite said splits.
 4. The device asdefined in claim 3 wherein said first and second ears are generallyradially disposed and said first and second holes are aligned wherebysaid first and second snap rings are also simultaneously expandable by atwo pointed tool inserted into said first and second holes.
 5. Thedevice as defined in claim 3 wherein said first snap ring has anoutline, said second ears have portions out of alignment with saidoutline and said second holes are located in said portions.
 6. Thedevice as defined in claim 3 wherein said first ears are generallyradially disposed, said second ears are generally tangentially disposedand said second holes are circumferentially spaced from said first ears.7. A unitary connector comprising a first flat C-shaped snap ring havinga radial split therethrough, first coplanar ears on opposite sides ofsaid radial split, first holes in said first ears and a first internalcircumferential surface, and a second flat C-shaped snap ring disposedin a parallel and coaxial relation to said first flat C-shaped snap ringand connected thereto by an integral bight, said second flat C-shapedsnap ring having a radial split therethrough, second coplanar ears onopposite sides of said radial split, second holes in said ears and asecond internal circumferential surface having a diameter greater thanthe diameter of said first internal circumferential surface, saidintegral bight being connected to each of said first and second snaprings along a minor portion of their respective outer margins wherebysaid first and second snap rings are independently expandable.